Perception is reality.
At least that's what some people say. It's the mantra of some of our city leaders as well as some of our national leaders. It's a belief used in advertising. In today's culture, where people appear to care more about appearance than truth, believing in perception leads many people to make poor choices.
Perception is important, but, thankfully, it's not reality.
Some false beliefs:
If you drive an expensive car, it means you're wealthy.
If you wear name-brand clothing, you're valuable.
If you go to church, you're a good person.
Jesus condemned hypocrisy. The word, in its essence, means the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion. In the Bible, in Matthew 23:26-28 Jesus said: "You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."
The Pharisees were the religious leaders. They dressed right, they appeared to act right, they were the ones who proclaimed their own righteousness and held themselves up as examples. But, Jesus saw what was inside and knew they were not what they appeared to be.
Do you know anyone like that?
What about the man in his suit sitting in the front of the church who smiles at everyone in church but at home demeans his wife and children while preaching submission?
What about the beautifully clothed lady who is in church every time the doors are open but who curses her husband and belittles him?
There are people who refuse to attend church because their spouse is always in church but is mean at home.
We all sin. Christians sin. We're human. But, the difference is choosing to change reality and not just perception.
King David in the Old Testament was called a friend of God. He wrote: "Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity..." Psalm 26:1.
But wait, isn't this the same man who committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed to cover up his own sin? How could he say that? It was because, when convicted of his sin, he confessed and repented.
King Saul, on the other hand, when confronted about his sin, made excuses and hardened his heart. He lost the throne because of his unrepentant attitude.
What has this to do with you and me today?
We, too, fail. But, growing in grace, in maturity, in honor, means that we are constantly striving to become what we profess; it means we rely on the strength and forgiveness of the only One who is truly holy. And, when we see the reality of ourselves, that in us is no good thing and that we, too, are capable of the worst we see so clearly in others, we will have compassion on them and willingly forgive them.
Matthew Henry, in his biblical commentary, wrote of the Pharisees: "While they would seem to be godly, they were neither sober nor righteous. We are really, what we are inwardly. Outward motives may keep the outside clean, while the inside is filthy; but if the heart and spirit be made new, there will be newness of life; here we must begin with ourselves. The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was like the ornaments of a grave, or dressing up a dead body, only for show."
• "Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart." Proverbs 26:23
• "Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ." Galatians 6:12
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Editor's note: Annette Beard is the managing editor of The Times of Northeast Benton County, chosen the best small weekly newspaper in Arkansas for five of the past six years. She has nine children, four sons-in-law, six grandsons, two granddaughters and another grandson due in August. She can be reached at [email protected].
Editorial on 07/29/2015